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Me:
Is the CMU mass channels an essential to your systems? Is this in the
walls? Would your observation apply to a localized thermal mass, say large
gravel in an insulated room in the basement?
Bion D. Howard:
1) hybrid blowers
activated by dT controller only when supply temp > mass
temp, plus several
degrees
Me:
Is this in both directions, removing excess heat
and supplying heat from rocks or CMU?
Bion D. Howard:
3)
totally passive cooling - never intentionally air-cooled where
temperature in
mass could go below the dew-point temperature, and cause
condensation =>
droplets => water => mold
Me:
If I used cooler summertime night time mountain air for the cooling with a
fan to aid (could be considered active), would that protect me from cooling the
rocks below dew point temperature? Do I need to study dew point
temperatures for summer air to stop cooling the rocks by cutting the fan at some
point. During the hot 90 plus humid days in the summer, it usually gets
down the the 50's at night. Since the house would start out cool from all
house fan, the rocks would not be called on to absorb heat until the afternoon
when even the insulated rocks will likely have warmed some.
Bion D. Howard:
5) destratification duct design can move air
into system in swing season,
albeit under the conditions cited in 1 - 4 above
(could provide tempering
of indoor spaces from overheating)
Me:
Is this a duct from the high point of a sloped ceiling that would channel
heat to separated thermal mass?
Bion D. Howard:
6) CMU "block bed" always installed over
insulation, vapor retarder, gravel
drainage layer (well sealed foundations
are a cornerstone of good design
anyway)
Me:
Is this below a slab or framing for floor? If it is a slab, is the
slab insulated on from CMU "block bed"?
Bion, I appreciate your response to this subject of
separated thermal mass for storing excess heat for the purpose of
controlling maintaining comfort with the flywheel affect.
B. Eli Fishpaw
Architect in Virginia
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